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September 19, 2008
Chizeck Takes Helm Of Day School At Baltimore Hebrew
Rochelle Eisenberg
Staff Reporter
She hadn’t even moved to Baltimore yet, but already Gerri Chizeck, the new head of The Day School at Baltimore Hebrew, was busy at work.
From California, she applied for a grant so the school could participate in the National Endowment of the Humanities’ “Picturing America” initiative in the fall.
It was this kind of dedication, along with her progressive philosophy, that led the Reform day school’s board to hire her to move the institution forward. Ms. Chizeck, who brings 31 years of educational experience, joined the administration last July after signing a three-year contract to become the new head of school.
With a wealth of experience in secular, Jewish and progressive day schools in California, Ms. Chizeck said she hopes to implement at Baltimore Hebrew many of the progressive philosophies she utilized in her previous positions. Her emphasis, she said, is two-fold: a focus on bringing 21st century education and the “essential” school philosophy to the Day School.
“Some think 21st century education is technologically-oriented. Technology is part of it, but what really embodies it is preparing children to live in a world that is ever-changing,” she said.
That, Ms. Chizeck noted, encompasses team-building, working together and conflict resolution. “I believe that the small class size [at the Day School] will give us an opportunity to work together in small groups of two,” she said.
In keeping with 21st century educational philosophy, she said she also expects to place an emphasis on global education and service learning, which includes tzedakah and integrating Judaic values into the program.
Second, she said that she is a strong believer in a philosophy espoused by the Coalition of Essential Schools, which focuses on small, personalized learning centers and personalized instruction to address individual needs. “Kids not only get personalized attention but learn to work on their own strengths and weaknesses,” she said.
In keeping with this philosophy, one of the projects Ms. Chizeck said she would like to add is an emphasis on portfolios for students in grades 5-8. In addition, she said she is interested in implementing Gateway presentations at the conclusion of the year. This would involve students standing in front of their peers, parents and teachers to share their accomplishments, strengths, and plans for growth and improvement.
Ms. Chizeck said she also expects to further institutionalize the written policies of the Day School, to ensure the quality of instruction does not vary. “I’d like to build stability,” she said.
A Pittsburgh native, Ms. Chizeck graduated from Antioch College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s in human development and administration from Pacific Oaks College. During the past three decades, she has worked as a teacher, administrator and writer of free lance curriculum and student workbooks.
Rabbi Floyd L. Herman, rabbi emeritus of Har Sinai Congregaton, who sits on the day school’s board, said of Ms. Chizeck, “I think we have someone who really understands 21st century education and brings a new sense of enthusiasm to the school. She will bring real stability to the school, and we have great confidence in her.”
Although Baltimore Hebrew has struggled for the past several years in terms of enrollment — currently the Day School estimates 140 students are enrolled in its preschool through eighth grade — Ms. Chizeck brings experience in turning schools around.
Hired as the assistant head of the Newbridge School in Santa Monica, Calif., which previously downsized from a K-12 school to a school serving 9-12 grades, she said she recreated a lower school, becoming the new head of its K-8 program.
Although the Day School would like to grow, Ms. Chizeck said she believes that smallness is a key benefit in terms of learning. Her master’s thesis was on researching children from small schools and observing how they performed in their future education. She found that students from smaller schools tend to be exemplary learners, participate in classrooms, ask questions, and are leaders and high achievers.
Ms. Chizeck said she believes there is a huge and untapped potential for growth at the Day School, and she hopes to use her expertise to tap that market. Already, she said she has several meetings within Baltimore’s Jewish community, and hopes to reach out to Jewish and independent preschools, as well as to the Reform community.